John r



(No ModeL) J. R. PORSTER.

RBVERSIBLB LATGH.

NO. 428,771. Patented-May 27, 1890.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN R. FORSTER, OF NEW BRITAIN, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO THE RUSSELL & ERVVIN MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

REVERSIBLE LATCH.

SPECIFICATIN forxhing part of Letters Patent No. 428,771, dated May 27, 1890.

Application filed March 17, 1886.

T0 au w7wm 7225 mcoy concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN R. FORSTER, a citizenof the United States, resi ding at New Brita1n, in the connty et Hartf0rd and State of Connecticnt, have invented certain new and nsefnl Improvements in Reversihle Latches of whieh the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in reversible latches; and the objects of my improvement are to make the stop and latch both reversible, so that the stop may act on either part of the divicled hnb, and also to make a cheap anti-friction device for a reversible latch.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a front elevation of my latch with the capplate removed. Fig. 2 is a sectional view of said latch on line 93 mot Fig. 1, looking.npwa rd; and Fig. 3 is a like VieW ot the same on said lino, looking clown, those parts which belong to the look proper being omitted.

The hnb is divided into two parts a a, for use with a divided spindle, and works against the angle-lever A, to which the inner end of the latch B is attached by means of the stnd b. A spring c acts on the short arm of the angle-lever A, With a tendency to hold said lever against the hub.

0 designates the swinging boit or lever, Which is operated by the night-key, and the upper end of which engages the lower end )f {the lever A, all snbstantially as in prier oc ;s.

I form in the front edge of both parts a a of the hnb a notch for engagement With' the inner end of the stop D. The engaging end of this stop is a narrow portion which is at one side of the case, as shown in Fig. 2, so that it can engage in the notch in only one part of the hnb at a time. The enter end of this stop lies in a eonntersnnk hole in the face-plate E, so that it may be pnshed inward from the outside. A short slide F has its enter end in a like hole in the face-plate and carries a spring d, the free end of which acts against a swell e on the case, so as to hold said slide in place. A cross-lever f, slotted at each end, is pivoted t0 a stud on the case at a point between the slide F and stop D. A stud on each of said parts F and D engages Serial No. 195.508. (No model.)

the slotted ends of the cross-leverf, as shown in Fig. 1. Like stnds are on the opposite side of the stop D for engagingthe slotted ends of the cross-lever when the latch is reversed. \Vhen the stop is engaged With the hnb, as shown, it nray he disengaged therefrom by pnshing in the short slide F. The latch is then free to be operated by the knob fron1 either side of the door. Vhen desired to lock that part of the spindle and its knob which :is on the outside of the door, the stop can be pushed inward by pressing on its enter end, and thereby forcing its inner end into engagement With the notch in one part of the hub. This movenient et the stop acts throngh the crosslever to throw the short slide outward into the position shown. The latch is represented as adjusted for a right-hand door, which fact is indieated by the letter R stamped on the stop D and on the latch B. This latch moves With the end et the angle-lever A at its inner end, and is snpported against working toc far toward the front or rear by projections g g on the case. (See Fig. 3.) Its front end'works through a mortise in the face-plate E, and just inside the case a roller h is pivoted in the latch a little to one side of the middle, so that the edge of the relier projects from that side of the latch which is opposite the bevel at the end, so that said roller 1nay bear npon the bearing-surface of the case, as shown in Fig. 3, and prevent the straight side of the latch fro1n bearing on the side of the mortaise in the face-plate. This removes considerable friction, the onter end of the latch being car ried by the relier when said latch is forced inward nnder pressure against its beveled end.

In order to reverse the latch, it is only necessary to remove the cap, as shown in Fig. 1. Then lift the inner end of the latch B from the stnd b, draw the latch ont of the mortise in the face-plate, tnrn itover and put it back in place, With the letter R out of sight. The reverse side of the latch is marked with the letter L. The cross-lever f is then removed, and the stop D is litted from between its guiding-lngs k I; and tnrned over, so as t0 engage the other part of the hnb. The reverse side of the stop (the side opposite the side marked B) is marked With the letter L. Jhe cross-lever and cap are replaeed and the latoh is ready for a left-hand (1001. The two sides of the case or benring surfaces opposite the roller h are alike, so thnt the roller nets in the manner before deseribed, only it bears upon the reverse side of the case.

The letters R and L, whioh are stamped on opposite sides of the stop and latoh, are not essentiel, as their proper position for a right or loft hand lntch enn l)e determined by inspection; but said marks are a great convenience in reversing the parts.

By my invention I produce a very simple and convenient reversible latoh, while the roller in the latel1 forms {L very simple and inexpensive and-friction device, whieh enables the lateh to be reversed as 1eadily as if no anti-frietion device were present.

I am aware that prior latehes for front doors have been provided With a sliding stop, with its outer end in the face-plate of the latoh, a short slide having its outer end also in the face-plate, .L cross-lever pivoted to the case and conneeting said slide and stop, and a friction-swing to hold tl1eparts in position et either end of their stroke, the szune being used in connection with IL two-pnrt hub, one part onlyof whioh Was provided With a notoh fox engnging the end of the stop; also, that a prior patent shows and describes 21 1311011 oonsisting of this snme old stop meehanism and a twopart hub, Witha notoh for the stop in only one part of the hui), but Witli the notched lug or fionge of the hui) mode thicker than in the prior construction, so that the sliding stop would engage snid notel1 no matter on whioh side of the lotch-case the notched part of tl1ehub was plnced.

I am also nware that a prior patent shows a lateh -bolt having three friction rollers pivoted therein, with their edges p1oj eeting equally upon opposite sides of the label one of whioh rollers formed the projeeting end of the lateh-bolt for engagement With the keeper also, that another prior patent shows a reversible latoh-bolt having two enm-plates pivoted thereto 21. little bock of its beveled end, with one edge of said cam-plates pro jeeting from one side of the latoh-bolt.

I olnim as my invention 1. Thecombination of the two-parthub, eaoh part having a notoh for engagement With the inner end of the stop, the lever operated by said hui), the reversible latoh opemted by said lever, and the reversible stop adapted to be tumed over for engagement with the notch in either part of the hnb, substantiel] y as described, and for the purpose speoified.

The eombination of the case having bemingsurfaees for the laceh-roller on opposite sides, the lever A,aeted npon l y the 1111]), and the lateh B, adapted to be attached to the lower end of said lever when fztcing either way, and having the ordinary bevoled outer end and the roller h, pivoted to said laleh a little to one side of Lhemiddle,so that the edge of said rolle1 projects from that side of the latch wl1ieh is opposite the bevel et the end, and is thereby adapted to hem upon the Domine-surface ut eitl1erside of the case, substnntially as described, and for the purpose specified.

JOHN R. FORSTER.

'itnesses:

Tnos. S. BISHOP, M. S. WIARD. 

